Resolutions and Position Statements

Georgia PTA Resolutions are official documents which have been approved by the membership at the annual convention. They reflect the will or intent of the association to address statewide issues concerning children and youth. National PTA's resolutions reflect national issues of concern.

This summary has been developed as a reference only to all current resolutions and position statements adopted by the Georgia PTA. The information is paraphrased and is not the complete position of the Georgia PTA and therefore should not be used to quote the Georgia PTA positions.

For more information about a particular resolution contact the Georgia PTA state office or the Georgia PTA Legislation Chair.

(R) Resolution (P) Position

ACTIVE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT (1981) (R)

Supports active parental and community involvement in the educational process of students today and creates awareness among parents and the community of the tremendous effect their involvement can make in the educational process.

ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV) SAFETY (1990) (R) Reviewed (1993) and (1998)

Encourages state and federal legislators to enact legislation aimed at decreasing the number of ATV-related deaths and injuries to children under 16 by prohibiting them from being ATV operators or passengers.

ANABOLIC STEROID USE BY STUDENTS (1987) (R)

Supports penalties for anyone who supplies or dispenses steroids illegally to youth.

BOOSTER SEATS (2003) (R)

Supports a requirement for children between 4-8 years old to be required to be protected in a booster seat while in a motor vehicle. Encourages local units to join statewide and local coalitions made up of community activists, law enforcement officials, emergency response units, parents and caregivers to create educational programs aimed at 100% usage of booster seats for children 4-8 years old.

POSSESSION OF CELL PHONES AT SCHOOL (2002) (R)

Supports legislation that removes the policy on student possession of cell phones from Georgia law and instead requires local boards of education to create policies for student possession of cell phones at school, while urging the restriction of cell phones during class times to avoid interruptions.

CHILD ABUSE (1975) (R)

Supports parent and family life programs that address themselves to the problem of child abuse, its causes and prevention. Encourages and supports family life education curricula in schools so that all future parents may be better able to cope with the problems of parenthood and family responsibilities.

DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULUM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS (2007) (R)

Believes that the state Department of Education should have the sole responsibility of developing curriculum. Should the General Assembly believe that new curriculum or curriculum modifications are necessary, it should refer the actual development to the state DOE.

DISCIPLINE IN THE SCHOOLS (1975) (R)

Supports programs in the school and community addressing the problems of discipline such as parental involvement policies, promotion of courtesy and respect, adequate counseling services and alternative and innovative education programs.

DRIVER EDUCATION (1981) (R)

Urges PTA's to encourage driver's education courses for eligible 15 and 16 year olds.

DRUG-RELATED PARAPHERNALIA MARKETING & BROADCASTING OBSCENE & PORNOGRAPHIC SONGS OPPOSITION (1979) (R)

Supports strict legislation aimed at combating marketing and broadcasting of such paraphernalia and obscene and pornographic songs.

EDUCATION ABOUT THE DANGERS OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS (1987) (R) Reviewed (1993) and (1998)

The U.S. Surgeon General has stated: Tobacco products, especially cigarettes, are the most important individual health risks in this country, responsible for more premature deaths and disability than any other known agent. Urges PTAs to participate with other organizations to educate the public about the dangers of the use of tobacco products, their effects on children, and the true cost of the use of tobacco products to society as a whole.

EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (1998) (R)

Encourages local and state education agencies to improve academic achievement and funding for all education, counseling and support services for the students with limited English proficiency. Promotes parental support to identify appropriate programs for the students and education of the parents to their rights and responsibilities for the education of their children is promoted. Supports foreign language instruction in the elementary and middle school programs and promotes articulated foreign language study from early childhood through high school, college and university levels.

ENERGY CONSERVATION (1980) (R)

Encourages parents and schools to conserve energy and urges teachers to convey energy conservation information to students.

EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS (1973) (R)

Supports equitable distribution of funds to states under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

EQUITY IN SCHOOL SPONSORED ACTIVITES (2000) (R)

Supports equal opportunity for every student to apply for interscholastic and intramural activities sponsored by the school.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAMS (1994) (R)

Supports the inclusion of foreign language in elementary and middle schools and supports foreign language programs from early childhood through college.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE (2003) (R)

Opposes proposals to eliminate two years of foreign language study from the requirements for the college-prep high school diploma; and encourages Georgia high schools to offer the material involved in two years of foreign language study over a three-year period to students who want to pursue the college-prep track, but have difficulty mastering a foreign language.

FUNDING QUALITY EDUCATION (1983) (R)

Urges the Georgia General Assembly to take whatever measures may be necessary to provide quality education for all Georgia's students.

GUN SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION (1999) (P)

Supports federal efforts to protect children and youth from gun violence. Advocates restricting access to guns from persons who may endanger public safety and raising the minimum age to 21 to be allowed to buy a handgun from non-licensed dealers.

IMPACT FEES FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION (1998) (R)

Requests the Georgia Constitution and/or Georgia Code be amended to allow local boards of education to levy, receive and use impact mitigation fees for school construction.

INCREASE FUNDING FOR "20 ADDITIONAL DAYS OF INSTRUCTION" TO ACHIEVE GRADE LEVEL PROFICIENCY (2006) (R)

Supports a minimum increase in the state appropriations for "20 Additional Days of Instruction" of instructional help from the current 10% to 20% of the students in each local school system to more nearly ensure that every student who needs additional instruction to master grade level requirements will receive it.

LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCILS (2000) (R)

Urges local PTA members to seek election to the Local School Councils.

LOTTERY EDUCATION FUND (2005) (R)

Urges the investigation into percentage of net funds allotted and that the full allocation of funds (35% of net proceeds) from the lottery be distributed to HOPE scholarships, pre-school education and K-12 programs.

LOWERING CLASS SIZE (1998) (R)

Encourages state education agencies and local school districts to develop policies and action plans to lower class sizes and supports legislation to adequately fund lower class sizes.

MANDATORY SCHOOL AGE (2005) (R)

Urges the Georgia legislature to pass legislation that requires students to stay in school until they reach the age of 18 or earn a high school degree, whichever comes first.

MEDIA ADVERTISING (1981) (R)

Urges all mass media outlets to study the effects on teenagers of glamorized use and socially acceptable advertising of drug, alcohol and tobacco products.

NON PARTISAN ELECTION OF LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS (1997) (R)

The citizens of Georgia should elect members of local boards of education by nonpartisan ballot. Urges the education of local PTA units, local communities, and elected officials that the most desirable democratic process for public education in Georgia is the selection of local board of education members without the influence and partisanship of political party politics.

OPPOSITION TO VOUCHERS AND TUITION TAX CREDITS FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS (2007) (R)

Requests that the members of the Georgia General Assembly vote against any voucher or tuition tax credit legislation and any attempt to divert public education dollars to non-public education interests.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND OBESITY (2002) (R)

Seeks to implement programs within the school health curriculum to inform students and parents about the growing and serious health problem of obesity in children. Encourages physical activity and emphasizes good nutrition to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity.

PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED POSTING OF MINOR'S PHOTOS (2006) (R)

Urges the enactment of laws that would prevent and combat the posting of any photographic image of any child to any website without parental consent and that the appropriate agencies vigorously enforce these laws along with state privacy laws.

PROVISION OF QUALITY CHILD CARE (1988) (R)

Supports state and national initiatives that will make quality child care available to all working parents. This includes support of after school programs to address the issue of "latch key" youth.

PUBLIC FUNDING OF SCHOOL NURSES (2006) (R)

Strongly recommends public funding for a full-time licensed school nurse at every school in the state of Georgia.

RATING SYSTEM AND INFORMATION ON CONTENTS OF BOOKS (2002) (R)

Urges publishers to establish a rating system along with specific information regarding profanity, vulgarities, sexual situations, excessive violence, or drugs/alcohol to identify books containing mature content and display information on the copyright page. Encourages reader testing programs, retailers and reviewers to consider explicit contents of books in providing information to the public on their websites, in reviews and in catalogs.

SHOPLIFTING PREVENTION (1980) (R)

Encourages PTAs to support educating the youth of Georgia on the crime of shoplifting.

SKATEBOARD SAFETY (1979) (R)

Urges its local councils and units to provide information on the hazards of skateboarding without proper safety equipment to its members and support the development of safe skateboard parks.

SKIN CANCER EDUCATION AND PREVENTION (2002) (R)

Encourages the state to implement programs within the school health curriculum that would reduce skin cancer by informing how to prevent it and promoting early detection. Encourages the use of sunscreens, wide brim hats, sunglasses, protective clothing and learned safety habits to reduce the skin cancer epidemic.

STUDENT DROPOUT (1985) (R)

Make communities aware of the student dropout problem and encourage solutions to eliminate this problem.

STYROFOAM IN SCHOOL CAFETERIAS OPPOSITION (1995) (R)

Opposes the use of polystyrene in all schools and will work to find sound alternatives to polystyrene products.

TEACHING STRATEGIES FOR CHILDREN BORN TO DRUG ADDICTED MOTHERS (1991) (R)

Calls for a coalition of PTA members, experts in the area of medicine, education, and social services to develop strategies for working with young victims of cocaine and substance abuse.

TEENAGE DRINKING (1980) (R)

Urges all parents to discourage the consumption of alcohol by teenagers.

TEENAGE DRIVING (2001) (R)

Supports legislation that incorporates at a minimum the components of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances' model law for graduated driver licensing. Supports legislation that incorporates driver education into the phases of graduated licensing. Calls on the Georgia PTA to promote parental involvement with young drivers.

TEENAGE DRIVING (2006) (R)

Encourage and promote a partnership between law enforcement, schools, parents and teens to improve teen safety while operating an automobile; encourage and promote state of the art driver's education curriculum and programs that assist parents in developing the skills needed to teach their teens to drive; require completion of a driver's education course before a student will be permitted to park on school campuses, encourage high schools to provide "Parent Awareness" programs for parents of teen drivers in order for them to park on school campuses.

TOBACCO SETTLEMENT FUNDS (2000) (R)

Supports that a majority of the tobacco settlement money be used for health programs (including prevention, intervention, and control) and be focused on Georgia's youth.

UNDERAGE USERS OF ALCOHOL/DRUGS AND PRIVILEGE OF DRIVING (1990) (R)

Urges that any person under the age of 21 who is convicted of any drug or alcohol charge should have his/her driver's license suspended if already issued or delayed if not yet issued.

USE OF PTA FUNDS FOR SALARIES (1996) (R)

Strongly opposes the use of PTA funds by its constituent bodies to pay or subsidize, either directly or indirectly, the salaries of public school employees. Strongly encourages its constituent bodies to achieve funding of public education through advocacy efforts, rather than fundraising efforts.

YOUTH ACCESS TO ALCOHOL (2001) (R)

Supports legislation action to stop the illegal availability and sale of alcohol to individuals under the age of 21. Urges PTAs to join community coalitions to address the problem of underage drinking.

YOUTH RELATED ALCOHOLISM (1981) (R)

Urges education about alcohol and that law enforcement agencies increase their efforts to apprehend persons selling alcohol to minors.

Where We Stand - Georgia PTA Board of Directors

ESTABLISHING NATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING (2002) (R)

Urges Congress to create a national media campaign to prevent underage drinking by comprehensive programs to educate young people and the public of its dangers.

IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN OUR SCHOOLS (2003) (R)

Urges Congress to continue to provide funding for physical education programs. Urges PTAs to support daily physical education programs as an integral part of children's education.

MIDDLE SCHOOL REFORM (2002) (P)

Prioritizes student performance and achievement by providing stronger and more accountable system of education. Expands parental rights, grants school districts flexibility and broadens learning opportunities for students. Emphasizes a balanced instruction program that includes all the arts, physical education and technology instruction for lifetime skills development while maintaining academic programs. Requires challenging and precise standards be developed to objectively measure achievement in academic areas to the highest levels possible, not just minimal standards. Supports teacher and staff development in assigned subject matters. Seeks remediation for at-risk students within appropriate age groups, with adequate funding for support services. Proposes giving local school districts flexibility to better meet community needs. Supports all stakeholders, teachers, parents, students and community leaders in establishing policies for implementing reform measures.